The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 30th JULY, 1883.

Southland Times, Issue 4699, 30 July 1883, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 30th JULY, 1883.

There is a subject that by common conpent is reckoned of primary importance, and that yet by an agreement also unanimous is denied any degree of public attention. It is the subject of our Forests There is perhaps no interest over which the State exercises control that is more loosely or carelessly managed. The very wealth of timber that we possess seems to be taken as the warrant for wasting and neglecting it. We are cutting into our forests with alarming energy, and seem to be making no calculation of the time they are likely to last us. It is extremely doubtful if anywhere the cutting is done with care and so as to utilise every available tree in the spaces gone over. The sawmiller is apt to run through his allotment, taking what is best out of it, and hurryon to fresh areas. What he leaves behind might be available for gleaning by the firewood cutter, but we are afraid is seldom put to so good a purpose. The bush through winch the sawmiller has passed presents a scene of rejected trees, of tree-tops and branches piled up in most admired disorder, all waiting a torch to ensure waste and destruction. Then the forests everywhere, in summer, are at anybody's mercy. A hot wind and a lucifer match will send the fire through thousands of acres, burning, charring and destroying the most valuable timber, and sweeping away sometimes the houses and fences of the settlers, and often the plant of the sawmiller himself. This is what we see every year, and yet the sickening loss seems to affect tiie public mind little. As far as the timber goes, there is still plenty lefb, and we give ourselves slight concern about what has been sacrificed. There is no public warning, no punishment of the offenders, and no stringent measures taken to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophe. But thia sort of thing going on year after year is a most serious loss of national property, and, as far as it may be preventable, is a grievous reproach to the whole community. Something should be done to oblige the sawmiller to clear up as he goes along, and at least to take one great source of danger out of the way. By section 71 of the Land Act, 1877 Amendment Act 1882, power is given to the Land Boards to stipulate with any licensee of timber land that he shall plant young marketable timber trees, not fewer in number than the trees felled by him ; and this of course implies a proper clearing of the ground. But we are not a?vare that this power has ever been erercised by any Land Board. We have spoken of the vast inroads that are being made by the sawmillers on our forests. The average of sawn timber cut in Southland, for many months past, has been above a million superficial feet per month. It ia easy to see how, under a process like this, the forests extensive as they are, will d'sappear within a measurable time. And this disappearance will mean not only the exhaustion of our supply of timber for building, fencing, and burning, but a serious effect on our climate. It is universally understood that trees are necessary to keep up moisture in anj region. Their destruction has led in many countries to climatic alterations that have been absolutely disastrous. In the south of this island, and in other portions of the colony where the moisture of the climate is the secret of fertility and the only moans by which the soil can be kept in heart, it is of the upmost consequence to keep a watch over the conditions of that moisture. As we cut down the forests there should be means taken to replace them : but this is what is not being done. Sir Julius Yogel was far-seeing enough to note this great necessity, and if his scheme was too ambitious and expensive, its conception bore the true marks of statesmanship.- When we look at the thousand "and one projects of legislation, yarying in fancifulness and impracticability, that #re brought before Parliament, and see that a matter ao vital as forest conservation is almost entirely neglected, we jire apt to reflect a little on the wisdom of oui' rulers. This question, however, cannot be long kept in. the back ground. It is absolutely necessary that we should begin to economise the. . stores of timber that we have already, ; and, before these approach the point of : exhaustion, r make provision ior fresh supplies. We are constantly- reading of the individual and national wealth that has been created ejgewhere by judi-.. cious tree-planting, sometimes on soils fitted for no other production. That practice should undoubtedly be. lie .run Ige, bothjby the nation and individuals, with., a distinct view to conW mercial anflr cjitnatlc advantage. We ; ' do not insis% : Onftfo.^ela,D^j^lyeu^to.^tije'. landscape, or tlie cultivation of the taste f>L the, .people,, although flie^planting of foees brings about both these; : results. ' If = pa?.,hj]|Bides s were> covered ; - with :t]:e, larch a'ndj Scoiteh ;£?, not- "pnly should we secure a perennial supply of e^cejjent timber, bat the whole face pf the country

would take on a new charm. It is the duty primarily of the Government to see that planting keeps pace with the destruction of the native timber, but much may be done by individuals. Every man who owns an acre or a farm should do something in the way of planting trees. He benefits himself, in the first place, to an extent that is not easily, calculated, and" he benefits" tlie whole country besides. The practice is becoming, com-, moner than it was,'but it'has yet' room to spread greatly. We^have^not in this, sketch nearly exhausted tEe benefits of tree-growing, but these after all that has been written, may be presumed to be pretty well known to farmers. Shelter, renewal of the soil, utilisation of swamp and otherwise waste lands —these are among the gains that we make by plantations. The subject is a wide one, and worthy the attention not of Government only, but of every one interested in -the welfare of the country. j ;